Spark and flame arrestor



y 1945- E. L. MORAN SPARK AND ARRESTOR Filed Jan. 4, 1943 Patented May 29, 1945 2,376,933- i SIPARVKHANDQFLAME ARRESTQR Illinois 1 a Application January 4, 1943, Serial No. 471,305

3 Claims. (Cl. 183'121) This invention relates, in general to a spark and flame arrestor, and particularly to a device for reducing the velocity of the exhaust of a combustion engine.

An object of this invention is to provide compact, simple and eiiicient means for providing a graduated reduction of the velocity of the exhaust gases, and preventing back pressure in the exhaust of a combustion engine, and the discharge of sparks and flame therefrom. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a safety device for combustion engines, particularly for automotive vehicles propelledby combustion engines operating in regions of relatively high fire hazard, such as powder mills, oil and. gas fields, refining areas, grain fields,and other localities where inflammable materials are present, as. well as in the transportation of explosive and highly combustible materials including trucks engaged in the transportation of powder, gasoline and the like, farm tractors, and other automotive vehicles subject to extraordinary fire hazards.

Additional objects, advantages and capabilities inherent; in this invention will become readily apparent from the description thereof which follows. H

This invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and

while there is shown therein preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the sameis susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiments of the invention, and views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sketch in perspective showing the invention in place on the exhaust of an automotive combustion engine.

Fig. 2 i a view of the front end of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The particular device herein disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a hollow body member or'shell ll preferably made of steel. The body is in the form of a cylindrical member which is-elongated transversely and has substantially parallel side walls with curved upper and lower connecting walls. A plurality of perforated, spaced baflle plates l2 provided with spaced apertures I3 are welded or otherwise secured to the body. One of said baflle plates forms the rear end wall or outlet of aid shell.

The irontend M of the shellisunperforated but is provided at its'upper portion with a suitable opening I 1 and a longitudinally extending tubular collarlfi adapted to ,be fitted upon the exhaust pipe/l5 of a combustion engine. The collar 15 is welded or otherwise suitably secured and sealed 1 tothe .shell in axial alignment'with the opening ll. In order that the collar Iii may be secured tosaidl'exhaust pipe, a longitudinal opening or slot 18 isprovided in the collar, and opposed lugsl9 are secured to its periphery adjacent the slot IS, the. lugs being provided with a threaded bore 2il'adapted to receive a screw 2| having a such number and size thatthe'aggregate area of'the holes of each'platewill be approximately 35% of the area of the battle plateand at least approximately twice the area ofthe opening ll.

The bafile plates are 0 arranged as to partition the interior of the fshellinto a plurality of compartments or chambers 24 and so that the-apertures of one plate or partition will be staggered with respect to those of the adjacent plate so as to interrupt the flow of exhaust gases and deflect them and thus generally prevent passage of gas, sparks, or fiame'directly or in a straight line through more than one plate or partition. It will be readily understood that such an arrangement will cause a graduated reduction in the velocity of the exhaust gasesand a corresponding reduction in their pressure to atmospheric pressure in the final compartment,

The spacing of the baflie plates l2 is such that the first section or compartment 24 will be approximately 50% larger than the others so as to. provide, a relatively greater and sharper reduction in the velocity of the exhaust gases in the first stage. This will substantially dissipate their heat and diminish their turbulence well in advance of their final dischargeinto the atmosphere and permit more gradual cooling and quieting of them in the later stages of reduction. The heat dissipating character of the perforated baflle I Solid matter accompanying the exhaust gases W111 accumulate in the first compartment which may be emptied as occasion requires, upon detaching the device from the exhaust pipe and pouring the contents through the opening H.

In a form of the invention which has proven satisfactory in practice a shell of No. 18'gauge a stee1'4 long by 5%" high b es" widewith an opening or inlet 1%? in diameter and having a collar 1 wide was provided with four baffle plates of 8:; KIN lfigaugeperforated sheet steel having 'ape'rturesof diameter with "cen-. ters spaced i a", and an aggregate open area of 35%. i In actual use it has been found that such.v

a device practically eliminates sparks. andflame' from the exhaust gases of gas engines Indeed," so cool arethe exhaust gases at;--the discharge": end of the device that thehand-may safely'fbe;

placed against the outlet end of the arrestor with the engine in operation.

Changes may be made in the fcrrn,;construc'-' a'svacse the exhaust pipe extending from the 'muffler of a motor vehicle and comprising a plurality of ad-- tion and arrangement of the parts without 'de-I art ng item h irit he inve tio an the served. o mak 'a l s ch chan es "thin the 1 Scope of the following f Thefinventwn is hereby 'claimed as follows 1 A Sllfikhfid flame arrestor ifor attachment to 'thefexhaust ppeext'endingfrom the mufiler of a motor vehicle and: comprising'a non-circularbody hav ng spacede id'p ates nd clo ing w lls in'-,

- u v n a t p endj'aj et cm aid my i s n- 5 sla d ongi udinally an be n considerably greater i rtica leng h ha i ts transve se 101,1 tudinal direction; one qfsaid'end'plates ben ossed. but ha ing an ope n at n em jacently horizontally spaced elongated thin narrow plates having a plurality of small horizontally spaced holes extending therethrough, a closed end plate spaced a predetermined distance from.

an adjacent-plate and having an inlet-opening at the top end 1 thereof EQrcQmInunicatiQn with the said exhaust, pipe, and a housing encom-- passing said plates and in physical contact with the edges of each plate, the plates forming spaced ..,compartments within the housing, the holes in I 1 one plate beingout of alinement with the holesof adjacent; plate; the area of the mallholes "cfgeachof-said elongatedthin narrow plates being at least twice the area of the inlet opening in a the closed end plate, one of said thin narrow plates being at the end of the housing opposite the closed plate and acting as the outlet for the rres rv B -Aspen andjflame arrestor for attachment to the exhaust, pipeextending-irom the mufiler of a motor vehicle and comprising a plurality of;

adjacentlyhorizontally; spaced elongated thin narrow plates having gag plurality of small horizontally; spaced holes extending therethrdugh, a closed end. plate spaced a predetermined distance from an adjacent plate and having-an in let opening at the topend thereof forcommunication with the said exhaust pipe, and a housing. I

encompassing said plates'and in physieal ntact-with the edges of {eachy'plata the plates forming spaced cornpartz rent-g 'withinthe housuppe en ther i to ie'ive'th'e exhaust pipe, the

other of sa d endp atesl bein provi with a plurality: of 'holes' therethrough; intermediate plates arrangedinteriorlypj the'body and spaced fro'm'said end atesencl fr m' ac other to lvi de spaced compartments within the body, said intermediate plates havingj'a'plurality of holes vtheretl rquglqnVthehQlfiS n Said plates being out of alinementytheholes in "each 'plate having an are a'at'least'twice as great as'the areaofthe exhaust pipe; andmeansfor securing'thearrestor to wer -t v a a I A spark and flame*arrestor'for-attachment to closed endplate and the adjacent thin narrow plate being g'reater thanthe spaces, between other of saidthin narrow plates. v

EDWARD -i 

